Noah K. Murray/The Star-Ledger Lakewood police taped off the are where a toddler fell fell into a septic tank and died Monday.

LAKEWOOD — A sand pit protected by police tape now covers the spot in Lakewood where a 2-year-old fell through a hole in a septic tank cover and died.

Next-door neighbor Rich Castellucci didn’t know Jenny Castro or her family, but the tragic accident on East Spruce Street Monday afternoon made him more cautious. A nine-year resident, Castellucci made sure the cement cover of the septic tank in his backyard was covered to protect his own 4-year-old son — just in case.

"It would have to be dug up to even get to the lid," Castellucci said. "I’ve purposely driven over it with my truck to make sure it’s safe. That one next door was exposed — and it shouldn’t have been exposed."

Today, Ocean County Prosecutor Marlene Lynch Ford said Castro, the daughter of Marina Matias, was the victim of an accidental drowning. An investigation continues, according to Ford, but it is not currently a criminal investigation.

The tragedy unfolded when Matias called Lakewood police at 4:49 p.m. to report her child was missing after a frantic 20-minute search. The mother was inside her home tending to a 2-month-old baby while her other four children played within the fenced-in backyard, Ford said.

Police dogs led authorities to a 3-foot wide hole near a dilapidated dwelling in the backyard, an entry to the septic tank below. Lakewood Public Works was summoned to pump out the water in the tank and officials found the girl around 7:30 p.m.

It took nearly another three hours to retrieve the child’s body.

Public records listed the property’s owners as Thomas and Catherine Feeks of Sunnyside, N.Y. They could not be reached for comment today.

Castellucci said the home was like many in his neighborhood — rented over the years with regular turnover. About a year-and-a-half ago, Castellucci smelled a foul odor coming from the direction of the septic tank and believed it may have been open. But the smell dissipated, he said.

"A homeowner would know if there was a hole in the septic tank, but a renter might not," he said. "And that’s a problem around here because a lot of homeowners don’t live here and don’t inspect their homes."

Matias could not be located for comment, but a family friend said in Spanish that she would not have known about an open septic tank cover. Linda Dovico, another neighbor, said she doubted the mother knew about the hole.

"Any mother, especially with kids, would make sure that hole was covered up if she knew it was there," Dovico said.

Septic tanks are common in the section of Lakewood where the drowning took place. Castellucci was calling for town or county officials to inspect septic tank covers in the area.

"Because how do you know three blocks away, with all of these rental units, there isn’t another open tank?" he asked.